Broad Scrutiny on New and Soon to be Released Albums

Friends old and new plus their independent labels provide the incentive for this months extensive DaveCromwellWrites reviews.  The artists covered here have provided ample amounts of inspiration, allowing sentences to flicker and discharge from a rewarding listening experience.  Newer, still-emerging artists creating work that fascinates find their way into this month's feature as well.  With some of the tracks out now, fuller length releases are expected within the next few weeks.

Returning to the DCW fold is an artist and musician who’s previous full-length album received a detailed review at the end of 2021. Nick Frater is now back with his twelfth studio album titled "Oh Contraire!" While possessing the talent and skill to write, perform, record, mix and produce his own work here (masterfully one would add) additional musicians for select enhancement are also included. The sheer weight and detail of all the instruments used (and played mostly by Nick) is an eye opener, yet all sounds necessary on the final output. Guest guitarists play essential leads and licks, and the array of drummers and bass players used all make indispensable contributions. With that we dive into a detailed track by track review of this new album.

The album opens with the brief minute and a half “Fanfare” showcasing a number of instruments featured throughout the entire record. Opening piano chords are quickly met with French Horn and lush strings wrapped in a melancholy forward march. Once the percussion arrives you can’t help notice a “Sgt. Peppers” influence. That segues into the album’s first full vocal track “My Heart’s In Stereo.” A chugging straightforward rocker, guitars featured prominently on this no-frills, concise (once again) under two and a half minute offering. “Call up the radio, wake up the world” is Nick’s opening salvo. Desiring a “song with the name of a girl,” it fast progresses to a background vocal enhanced change into the repeated song title line. Moving on to “calling in favors and falling in line” eventually gives way to “eyes are telescopes as we search horizon skies.” Notable sonic additions like oddball synth twiddles in places add to the overall fun.

Third entry “I Know You Know I Know” comes with an official video release that plays on vintage video game imagery. With the words “Welcome to Teletext” showing in simple pixel writing on the screen, a full-on powerpop song commences. While intro verses leading with “Love is a line,” and “Love is a time” set the stage, it’s the first change “Happenstance will find yourself a second chance” that drives home it’s rhythmic cadence. When the hook chorus with all those “I know’s” emerge, one can’t help think about songwriter Gregg Alexander’s explanation as to why he included multiples of those same words on Sophie Ellis Bextor’s smash hit “Murder On The Dance Floor.” Having been told you should never repeat words, he defiantly did the opposite (and proved them all wrong). Nick appears to be successfully taking the same tactic here. The video amusingly poses the question “more cowbell?” at the exact moment that famed percussion instrument is being employed. All good pop songs needs a smokin’ guitar solo and one emerges here at the 2:10 mark of this perfect 3 minute instant classic.

Check it out here:

A booming drum intro and descending electric guitar progression leads in next cut “Song For The One Eyed City.” Vocals commence stating “there’s no trouble” and “no bother,” that there’s “no worry” and even “no money” as key reference points. “No telling as I’ve heard it allll (in pure Beatles elongation) tonight.” The immediate change is magnificent as the lyrics “on the hill” draws the same emotional impact as The Kinks “it’s your life” segment in their classic “Tired of Waiting for You.”

There’s a near doo-wop vibe in the progression and background voices on next cut “Final Reminder.” Once again eschewing the songwriting “rule” of not repeating words, Nick doubles down with repeated “yes I know’s” and “yet again’s” for hooky rhythmic balance. A seemingly sad song about being reminded of someone you lost, is kept afloat by it’s driving melodic guitar hook.  With vintage telephone sounds introducing “Seraphim Called” (seems appropriate) a classic “stroll” progression gets right underway. Those familiar 10CC/Supertramp reverberated electric piano chords serve as primary instrumental force behind Nick’s questions-to-the-universe vocals. A tasty repeating electric guitar melody riff emerges just past the midway point, adding grit to the proceedings. Running behind that is a distant “celestial” pad of seemingly “angelic ahhhs” and locked-on-rhythm drumming. One more alternately descending/rising guitar figure emerges later on within the mix as well.

“One Minute” also comes with a video treatment for this instantly appealing pop song. Opening with the image of that little girl staring into a TV screen from iconic 1982 film “Poltergeist” who famously says "They're here" (and cleverly displaying the labels logo on there). Quickly moving to another room where vintage 80’s stereo equipment and shelves of vinyl albums are showcased as the song kicks into gear. As one might expect, Nick himself (with his band) shows up on a TV playing in an elaborately wallpapered “grandma’s” living room. Professors explaining scientific equations appear, as do a group of 4 men looking into a bag with a small cute cat in it, which suddenly morphs into a giant feline killer! The song itself is a forward charging guitar chugger that ponders the passage of time as each minute goes by. The essential vocal hook goes “Godspeed my deadbeats - could it be we’re in luck again?”

Check out this fun video (and song) here:

A twangy guitar riff sets the initial tone for mid-tempo groove “Steal Away.” With a sentiment centered around making time for yourself, the lines “I know – said it all before – I think it’s time to smile” ring true. Clever wordplay on the chorus rhymes the album’s title word with common household appliance “Frigidaire.” Additional points given for the buzzing and clinking percussion instruments running throughout.   “All Roads Lead To Home” is a McCartney-esque piano ballad in that “Long and Winding Road” form.  60’s style castanets add a Phil Spector vibe to the production as do steady synth/string section running throughout. The universal sentiment “I guess it’s now or never – been way too long” as always, rings true.

“Welcome to Hollywood – welcome to looking good” are the opening sugar processed vocal lines of “Dreaming Of A Wonderland.” The vocal production and lyrics themselves seem to both be celebrating the joys artificial pursuits. References to “Xanadu” and “Shangri La” drive home the quest for beautiful imaginary places. An ear-tickling tambourine-focused percussion track and well-placed guitar riffs add counterpoint to the overall vocal smoothness. The ultimate reveal is this “wonderland” is actually about becoming a big time arena rock star. Welcome to the show, indeed.  If you write song titled “Goodnight, Goodbye” it only makes sense to end your album with it. One more piano ballad, this time enhanced by what sounds like real violins and such. “This lullaby will send you on your way” serves as the perfect close out to this meticulously detailed record.

Follow Nick Frater on their Official Website  -  Facebook   - and Instagram

Pre-order the album "Oh Contraire!" here and here.

Connect with the label via their Official Website  -  Facebook  -  Instagram  -  and TwitterX

A previous DCW feature on this artist can be found here.

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Héctor Caolo Alvarez runs indie label 3 Robots Records which focuses on music delivering ambient, ethereal, dreamgaze, pop, electronic, and psychedelic styles. Many of their releases have been reviewed here on this site over the past few years. Always producing high quality material, the output delivered is never disappointing. A new release by the project Sueño con Belugas (Spanish language meaning “I dream of Belugas” - which are white whales) shows the band exploring interesting new directions. Two tracks are currently available, and will be included on an upcoming fuller release “Ataque con rayos electrónicos EP” (“Attack with electronic rays”).

First single release “Velocidad” (“Speed” in English) comes with a full video treatment, which (as often does) enhances the overall listening experience. With gently strummed guitar chords shifting from major to minor, the image of an eye (up close) is overlaid with floating effects and band members at their instruments. The lovely voice of María López (Malow) begins, singing in Spanish “Cielos yo me quedo” which translates to “Heavens, I'm staying.” Hector’s chiming guitar work fills the audio field and is impressive, since his previous work reviewed here emphasized his bass playing. The rhythm section of drums and bass guitar are fully locked in, providing accents and emphasis on the vocal story being told. All about those Cielos/Heavens, and not wanting to leave, but to stay and laugh. The vocals continue to rise with intensity and emotion as overall meaning reveals a pursuit of truth, of my and in your “Velocidad” (speed). The tracks final two minutes is an epic instrumental sequence of two synchronized guitars, powerful bass and drums (with an ambient coda for good measure).

Check out this emotionally dreamy song and video here:

A second track released from the EP is the introspective, slide guitar infused "Mil Recuerdos" (A Thousand Memories).   Slowly strummed acoustics and extended note slide guitars conjures up the sensation of floating on a lazy river. Hector takes the lead vocals this time, calling out to the universe with lines “Hola como haz estado” (Hello, how have you been?) Malow returns to provide backing vocals on the essential line “Tu y yo mil recuerdos” ( You and I, a thousand memories).

These two tracks are available right now, with the full EP dropping on March 31, 2025.

Follow Sueño con Belugas and 3 Robots Records on their Social Media  -  Facebook  -  Instagram  -  TwitterX

A number of previous DCW features on Hector and his various collaborations can be found here, here, here, here and here.

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Good friends of this site the Kool Kat Musik label has been dedicating their energies towards spreading melodic pop music from around the world. They’ve marketed thousands of releases by bands and artists including over 160 releases under their own label imprint. The label has now announced an upcoming release, “Snowy Chloe” by the power pop band Bur.  The album drops in full on February 28, with an advance listen inspiring a review taster down below.

Featured track “From The Top” kicks off with an ascending four chord progression via brightly toned electric guitar. Bass and drums join in after the initial pass through, leading into a steady revolving verse progression. Tandem voices in reedy, mid-range register evoke a power-pop urgency that is timelessly familiar. With well placed background vocal “ahhh’s” and quick-turn rhythmic accents, the spirit of MerseyBeat pioneers like The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers and such can be felt throughout. Clocking in at a brisk under two and a half minutes, musical hooks are abundant. The opening rise chord sequence is mirrored via bold single note guitar riffs a minute in. The songs title eventually appears as a reference point for “where you should start.” More sinewy guitar riffs make their way into the mix, along with waves of cascading voices. The overall sensation is one of fast paced exuberance wrapped in pure pop joy.

Check it out right here:

 
Set for release on February 28, you can Pre-Order it here right now.

Follow Bur on their Social Media  -  Facebook and Bandcamp
 

Follow Kool Kat Musik on their Official Website  and  Facebook  

A previous DCW feature on the KoolKatMusik label can be found here.

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Best Of 2022: New Music Reviews and Interviews

2022's final month offers a time for revisiting music reviews composed and compiled here on this site throughout the year. The annual “Best Of” highlights those notable artists written about since January. A concise listing focused on each months entries in sequential order brings attention once again to the most engaging releases of 2022.

  

With the New Year came a fresh crop of album and single releases that were followed by full-length recordings later on. Most of these artists have been developing their individual style for a number of years. Featured on indie labels with consistent track records, the first month of 2022 saw this site digging in to a variety of creative songwriters and sound designers.

Frequent contributors to this site Big Stir Records rolled-out their first major album release of 2022: “Darling Please” from acclaimed North Carolina singer-songwriter Chris Church. A remastering of songs recorded a number of years back, the artists re-imagined his original vision aided by modern recording studio facilitation.

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Along with the lyric-heavy vocal music frequently reviewed here, this site has also made it a point to feature quality instrumental releases at times. The Seattle-based soul-jazz groove machine Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio first released the single “Don't Worry 'Bout What I Do” and full album Cold As Weiss via Colemine Records.

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Good Eye Records introduced an exciting new track "Boscobel," which served as the first single from new to this site band Sooner's debut album, Days and Nights. Sooner specializes in blending alternative rock, dream pop and gaze with romantic female lead vocals.

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The complete reviews on the above bands can be found here.

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The Kool Kat Music label released “Wish I Could See” by Cheap Star. Fronted by Swiss-French musician Remi Vaissiere (who wrote, sings lead and plays guitar on all the songs). A distinct 'Americana/Powerpop' vibe runs through it all due to the artists long-time relationship with seminal late 80's/early 90's Posies frontman Jon Auer. Brought in to produce and mix the record, Jon also plays a variety of guitars and keyboards on nearly all of the tracks. The Posies connection doesn't end there as respected drummer Brian Young (a member of that band during their major label years from 94-98, before moving on to The Fountains of Wayne and then The Jesus and Mary Chain) delivers outstanding percussion on every one of these new songs.

 

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The music of Dead Leaf Echo is no stranger to this site, having covered their recordings and many live shows for over a decade. Notwithstanding some personnel changes one could hardly be surprised at over that length of time, the current lineup has been relatively steady the last few years. After completing their first Latin America tour, they released a six track EP. “Milk.Blue.Kisses.And.Whalebone.Wishes” is the mysterious and poetic title, serving as something of a hybrid to the song titles on it.

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Austin, Texas heavy-groove blues-rockers The Dizzy Bangers received a detailed analysis on their song “Painted Bruises,” which displayed an advanced level of musicianship and lyrical mastery within the heavy rock genre.

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Full reviews on all of the above can be found on this site right here.

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Equal measures of industrial electronics, heavy rock, seductive vocals, black-clad fashion glamour and spirituality are woven together in the music of Turbo Goth. As popularity continues to grow in both their native Philippines and adopted home of NYC, the duo of Paolo Peralta and Sarah Gaugler released their album “Awakened Imagination.”

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The always busy Brighton, England based Shore Dive Records contributed this month, promoting their 111th release featuring Stockholm, Sweden's We.ThePigs. This full-length album highlights a lovely collection of female vocal dreampop, harsh Sonic Youth-like guitar noise and even a JAMC “tribute” as well.

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Enticed to check out the music of already established indie rockers Star Collector proved to be a prudent endeavor. Working in the classic 4 piece, two guitar, bass and drums formation, an impressive level of vocal harmonies lift them above rudimentary “garage band” status.

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Read all the reviews on every artist in this feature here.

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The folks at Shoredive Records seem to instinctively knows what will fly here at this site. Offering the labels 116th release featured an artist out of Chicago called “Glitter Assassin.” That cool name along with the promise of noisy guitar layered indie pop with a heavy gazer influence received the full DCW analysis.

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Respected Label BIG STIR RECORDS rolled out the first in a series of singles highlighting Finnish power-pop guitar group The Bablers. An appropriate CromwellWrites deep-dive ensued.

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An interesting musician recording under the name Friends from Moon released a concept album titled “Astray.” It's epic and incendiary track “Marvels beyond Madness” garnered intense listen and review.

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The Rosie Varela Project released their album “What Remains,” with its single track “Fault Line” receiving a wordy investigation.

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Check out the full coverage on all the above here.

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Four exciting new audio and video releases summoned attention for the month of May . Storied legends with lengthy discographies (still going strong) share space here with newer established artists along with debut entries as well.

Legendary gothic death-rock pioneers Christian Death have a long history that dates back to their original formation in the 1980's. Equal parts adoration and controversy have continued to surround them ever since. Featured track and video for “Beautiful” from their 17th studio album “Evil Becomes Rule” received primary focus.

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Inspired by a 75 million year old rock formation in Thailand that when viewed from above, create the visual illusion of a family of whales, 3 Robots Records indie label artists Sueño con belugas released their epic track “Normal.”

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With the release of her latest album “Tresor,” the evolutionary vision of musician Gwenno reached a new pinnacle. The title track and it's accompanying video provided a unique journey into her Cornish and Welsh history.

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A collective calling themselves Seedsmen to the World released their debut album on Blue Arrow and Birdman Records. Combining elements of trance-drone and folk music, it's offbeat qualities sparked further investigation.

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Link through to the full feature on the above bands here.

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Frequently featured label Patetico Recordings returned to the DCW realm with a new collaborative effort Heliocentric Overdrive and their debut EP “Weightless.” Their melodic-pop tracks are fuleed by a precise and frenetic delivery.

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If it seems like there is yet-another Shoredive Records artist being featured here on this site every other month or so – well, that's because it's true. One of the busiest, most-consistent labels out there, something new, exciting and previously unheard of appears in our listening sphere that simply can't be ignored. This time it was mysterious dreamgaze from Montpellier/Paris going by the name 40 Days Without Water.

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Another independent label discovery was the Peruvian based Chip Musik Records. It specializes in ambient, electronic, chillwave, experimental, glitch, dreamgaze, vaporwave and experimental artists from all over the world. Their release Lego 15 – Pulsos de Bosques (Forest Pulses) is an extensive collection of music from Central/South American and other international locales.

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Sometimes a record is released in a low key manner with little fanfare, and the band moves right to playing live as a means of showcasing this new material. Such was the case with Tight Lips debut EP, which was released at the end of March. With bands and audiences reconnecting at live shows again, the opportunity to focus on this previously uninvestigated recorded music presented itself.

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Read full-length reviews on all of the above artists here.

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The good folks over at Big Stir Records released a full-length album by LA psych-pop rockers Maple Mars. Titled “Someone's Got To Listen,” it's the band first album in over a decade, and debut for this label.

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Andres Alfonso Lugo is a Baltimore-based recording artist who's work has been featured here on DCW numerous times. While those previous reviews focused on the bands he belongs to, the current work here being delved into is his solo project Los Dientes Hundidos en la Garganta. With that phrase translating into “the sunken teeth in the throat,” the music created is less ferocious (though still quite powerful) than that expression would suggest. Andres provides guitar, loops, programmed drums, bass and synth, while enlisting contributions from Ferran Pont Verges (Die Noia Futuriszka) with guitars, voice and mixing on "Loops of Energy."

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Receiving news about a new project involving long-time fave David J (of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets fame) is always welcome. Busy as he's been over the last few years with revived live shows, hearing about brand new songs and group collaboration peaked curiosity. The debut album “A Free Society” by newly minted combo Night Crickets also includes Vincent DeLorenzo (from Violent Femmes) and multi-instrumentalist Darwin Meiners. Drawing their name from a conversation about something David Lynch said, the recordings came together via audio files shared between Los Angeles, Milwaukee, London and San Francisco. Their music video and song “The Unreliable Narrator,” received a detailed review.

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An inquisitive individual who records and plays live music under the moniker 77 Apes caught the attention of DCW through their steady persistence. It is a solo artist endeavor where lyric-heavy songs are accompanied by acoustic and electric guitars, fleshed-out with background rhythm tracks.

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The original full review writing on all of the above bands (complete with links or song embeds) can be found here.

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Longtime friends of this site The Stargazer Lilies released a video for first single “Bending The Lines” in advance of their 5th studio album release “Cosmic Tidal Wave” via Floravinyl Records. The track and video receives appropriate fragmented windswept reverie.

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The steady output from Philadelphia's Patetico Recordings assures ample opportunity for frequent reviews here on this site. This particular month saw the release of “From the ashes” by Stellarscope, which featured a precision review of single track “All the lies.”

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Influential bands of the 90's continued to re-emerge with new material, which was welcome news to audiences who have missed them. Consider the Portland trio – No 2 – back with their third album, but first in a number of years. Fronted by Neil Gust who originally shared songwriting duties in Heatmiser (along with Elliott Smith), No 2 rose out of that bands ashes in the late 90's. The album titled “First Love” was released on Jealous Butcher Records.

Heavy blues rock has always been a particular favorite here at this site, and nobody does it better than Austin, Texas-based The Dizzy Bangers. Though relatively new here to the DCW orbit, a number of reviews have already made their way into prior features. The band returned once again with a new video release for their song “Painted Bruises,” earning additional commentary and analysis on it.

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Full reviews of everything in this feature can be found here.

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Turning attention once again to one of Shoredive Records releases found this site focusing on the recording project Xeresa. Simply titled “IV” (as in album number 4), the fully named Nicolas Pierre Wardell (previously only known as Label boss Nico Beatastic) serves as the bands primary catalyst. Painstakingly recorded between 2019 and 2022, each song features guest vocalists, some who have full releases on the parent label. Each track was built in the more common now than ever way of sending instrumental basic tracks to each respective artist for their creative additions (predominantly vocals).

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UK Power Pop Rockers It's Karma It's Cool released the track “A Gentle Reminder,” accompanied by an in-studio style video performance, providing visual imagery of the band performing. This perfect slice of powerful pop music received a full DCW breakdown.

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Follow this link for complete reviews of these artists.

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It had been a year or two since new Lunar Twin music entered our universe. The enigmatic west coast duo returned with “Beyond The Sun,” the first single release from their upcoming album “Aurora.” Bryce Boudreau (vocalist/songwriter) and Christopher Murphy (multi-instrumentalist/producer) continue to expand on their sonic vision with this new material. “Beyond The Sun” received a close listen and complete review. A full nine track album is due soon, with another track “Android Dreams” available now to acquire and listen to.

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Returning here for another review is the work of Baltimore-based recording artist Andres Alfonso, who makes solo music as Los Dientes Hundidos en la Garganta. While that phrase loosely translates to “the sunken teeth in the throat,” Andres composes his ambient works with guitars, bass and heavy looping. What comes out of that are wonderfully dreamy experimental ambient electronic soundscapes. The second single “Configurations” from latest album “Infinite Past” on Jak Jonson Tapes has recently dropped, and got the full review treatment.

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Link to the full reviews of all these bands here.

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An in-depth Interview and hotly anticipated EP Review shared space with two full-length, track-by-track reviews from trusted labels and artists. With one returning and another first-time creator receiving detailed analysis on their latest recordings, the quest to make sense of it all carried on without limit.

When press releases about a new band called The Buckleys started showing up via email over the last two years, an appreciation for the music and image they were producing was instantly felt. With the band recently coming to New York, Nashville and LA for press stops and personal appearances, I was honored to catch up with them for a face-to-face interview.

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Back in May of this year, ambient dreamgaze collective Sueño con belugas were reviewed here on DCW for their introductory track “Normal” in anticipation of upcoming album “Memoria Cósmica.” With the release of that full eight song album, a chance to dig deeper into their sound presented itself.

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Bookending Big Stir Records first major album release of 2022 (as mentioned here at the beginning of this Feature) was their final release of the year, “Sounds In English” by Sweden’s Richard Öhrn. Best known as the guitarist and one of the songwriters for the indie pop band In Deed, this release serves as his solo debut.

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Full coverage of all the above artists can be found here.

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The Kings and Queens of that glorious Astoria music scene – GIFTSHOP, performed two notable live shows that certainly qualify for “Best Of 2022” designation. Back on the final day of April the band played at Otto's on NYC's lower east side as part of a benefit to aid Ukraine.

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Treating the audience to many of their classic tracks like “Despicable,” their careful selection of classic covers contribute to a total live show experience. Check out their glorious rendition of The Cars “Just What I Needed” on this night right here.

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A more recent show went down earlier this month at beloved Astoria, Queens venue The Shillelagh Tavern. With dazzling frontwoman and lead vocalist Meghan having morphed from platinum blonde to bright-fire redhead, the band ripped through another killer set of originals and choice covers.

Opening with perennial favorite “Purchase,” they hit the ground in high gear and everything was “soo good – soo good.”

Was great to hear an updated version of “Same” which also included room for Jordan to showcase his drumming skills. There was the how-does-she-do-it hyper-speed vocals on “Things I Feel.”

Damian and Matt - axe-slingers on the corners.

Other enjoyable tracks played were "Stylish Junkie," "Spooky Halloween Christmas" along with bring-the-house-down covers of "Creep" and "Only The Lonely" (a clip of which can be heard at the end of this Instagram Post here).

All Aboard For Fun Time!

A previous GIFTSHOP review feature on this site can be found here.

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